Comment

Comment by Not Da Mama on March 17, 2014 at 10:21pm

Hello,

You Moms have been awfully quiet here for a while so I thought I would jump in, introduce myself, and give you notice that I will be lurking on your group as well from now on.

My Username is Not Da Mama or NDM ( if any of you remember the Disney TV show Dinosaurs). My wife ( Mrs. NDM ) and I have been active on the Nuke Moms board for over 2 years now.  You may have seen us there or on the Challenge Coin discussions.  My Son, an MM3, is an ex-Nuke ( that’s what I call them ).  He made it 97% through Nuclear Prototype School but couldn’t make the cut during the final week.  That was just before Xmas.  He’s been re-rated as a conventional MM and assigned to the Cable, his first Navy ship, about a month ago. 

We are a proud 3^rd generation Navy family.  My Father was an AB3 on CV5, at Coral Sea in WWII.  I was a BM3 on DD878  ( Vietnam, and Persian Gulf ) back in the Late 60’s and early 70’s.  My Son is now an MM3 on AS40 ported in Guam.  I have a sister who served on AS32 in Groton about 10 years ago.

As of last week I hear we are underway somewhere.  My kid is communications challenged, He would sum up the entire history of Western Civilization as “ a lot of stuff happened”.  That is why the wife and I check these conversations, to learn what’s happening.  I understand Navy Security and stuff, but you guys may know what we can talk about and what we can’t.  The only pictures I got were from the official Island tour, and two of the ship’s wake.

Anyway, Hello, I am honored to join your group, and I hope to make some friends here like the ones I made in Nuke Moms.  I don’t post A LOT, and the wife sometimes needs to prodded into participating, but if we have 2 cents worth of experience, attitude, or questions, we will share, after all we are one big Navy Family.  We will be lurking here, if nothing else, cause the Frank Cable is our new home.

Comment by Lois in OK on December 6, 2013 at 1:43pm

Hi All.

I am hoping someone can help me.  My son recently got back to the Frank cable he was for a short time on the ESL.  But I don't remember the address for my sailor on the Frank Cable. Can someone Help me.

Comment by Charlotte(ship02Div930) on August 30, 2013 at 8:21pm

How awesome you got a phone call Cindy! My son has taken scuba lessons and really enjoys scuba diving. Right now he is really into golfing.....a lot! Lol. It is always hot on the island...no seasons. I'm glad he had easy travels!

Comment by Cindy on August 30, 2013 at 9:46am

Got a call from my son this week, he got his phone turned over, and is buying a cheap car from a fellow sailor.  He is living on the ship for around 3 months, tight but fine for him. So far he loves the island, and is getting used to the humidity, not a long stretch as we are in the Midwest and have steamy summers. No problems with his travel over and thanks so much for the baggage info, he checked 3 and carried on one with no probs at all. Have your soldiers taken scuba lessons? He really wants to, I did not know if folks have any experience with providers on the island. My son is an EM.

Comment by LMD Iowa on August 23, 2013 at 5:35pm

Hi Charlotte, my son's been in about 2 1/2 yrs, also.  He's a GM.

Comment by Charlotte(ship02Div930) on August 22, 2013 at 7:39pm

Hi Ladies! How exciting your sailors are heading to Guam. There is never any action on this page! My son has been in Guam for 1 year 8 months and has another 1 year and 4 months, but who's counting!! Lol. I am trying to remember how many bags my son took with him. I know the airlines aren't as strict with military. How long have your sailors been in the Navy and what are their rates? My son has been in 2.5 years and he is IT1. If I can help answer any question let me know. Communication is a wonderful thing although the time difference is difficult. I often text him before I go to bed and wake up to a reply. I also hear from him around 1pm my time because it's 6am his time, when he's waking up. Your sailors will enjoy Guam. Lots to do on that tiny island.

Comment by LMD Iowa on August 22, 2013 at 12:56pm

My husband flew out to San Diego in June so that he could drive home with my son in his truck since he had to bring two year's worth of his stuff home with him, go thru it, and then figure out what he was going to pack to take with him.  Imagine the look of horror on my face when he just dumped every sea bag he had into giant piles on the living room floor....laundry for mom!  Yay.  (I didn't even know where to start! I must've done 3 loads of just uniforms. How many navy blue t-shirts does one person need to have?)  Then he had to drive back to SD & left from there on 7/4.  Fortunately, the Navy shipped his vehicle for him from San Diego, so he at least has a way around the island.  Like you, I'm kinda bummed about the 2 yr thing.....we priced airfare, and at almost 2 grand to fly him home, I'm guessing he won't be coming home at Christmas. We've only gotten a couple calls, no Skype yet (that would probably require effort on his part!), but he does text a lot.  BTW, if your son has Verizon, note that apparently it's super-expensive to call/text/etc from Guam with Verizon because they don't have a presence there.  My son had to get a new phone & go with something I think called GTA or something like that...a separate service from Guam.  I think it's pretty affordable for the guys--I think he had to go up to the Air Force base to get that taken care of but at least now he's able to call & text & not worry about a crazy high phone bill.   We have to be aware of the time difference, too....my husband accidentally woke him up once after he'd been on duty, so he was really cranky!  I just usually let him call or text me, I never want to bother him when he's busy working--or sleeping!--since they are 15 hours ahead of us.  (We are Central time.)  I know, without today's almost instant communication, I cannot imagine how hard it was as a mom to have your kid on the other side of the world.  I am grateful for Facebook, because at least when I see his postings, I know he's ok & staying busy, plus he'll post photos so it's not like we are ever really far apart. 

Comment by Cindy on August 22, 2013 at 12:29pm

Thanks so much the letter was from GL when he left there before he came home on leave. My hubby checked with the airline and they said the same as you, so appreciate your help, he will also be there for 2 yrs- wow that is hard to type, but at least we will have phone, Skype ect. I cannot even imagine how it used to be without all of the communication we have now.

Comment by LMD Iowa on August 22, 2013 at 10:29am

Cindy....my son went in July, will be there for 2 yrs.  I believe he took 3 (or was it 4?) sea bags with him (checked) and then carried on his backpack (w/ his laptop & personal important stuff) and his garment bag with his uniforms (that he did not want to trust being checked).  Not sure what kind of "letter" you got that said limited to one checked bag? Yikes! I know that when we checked with the airlines when he was going to be flying out there, they advised us that as long as he is flying on orders, he can have up to X number of bags---definitely check the airline website for their baggage rules but look for military-specific rules because they are bit more lenient for traveling military. Especially when you have orders.  Call if you have to & talk to a live person to confirm.   You shouldn't have to pay for any bags at all, for military on orders that is usual waved.  Definitely check with the airlines--I think my son flew United.  (He didn't leave from home, he left from San Diego.)  I cannot imagine that if you're going to be there for any length of time that only being able to take one bag can have enough of your clothes, etc....heck, just getting all the NWU's in there takes up almost an entire bag!  No less if you want to take any civilian clothes, etc..  Good luck!!  Keep me posted what you find out.

Comment by Cindy on August 22, 2013 at 8:08am

My son leaves tomorrow to go to Guam. His letter says he can have only one checked bag on the airplane and it can only weigh 50 lbs. He can have 2 carry on's but that still leaves another bag. Has anyone else going to guam had problems with the limits on bags? Can we pay for an extra checked bag, and will that be a problem down the line?

 

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• …
• 14
• Next ›
• Page